"Ag-gag" bills criminalize whistle-blowing that exposes animal abuses, unsafe working conditions and environmental problems on factory farms. "Ag-gag" laws ensure that consumers and authorities are kept in the dark.

Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota and Utah have enacted ag-gag laws, but such bills were defeated in eight other states. In 2013, new "ag-gag" bills were introduced in Arkansas, California, Indiana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont and Wyoming. The language has been invariably drafted by the infamous anti-consumer American Legislative Exchange Council.

Thirty newspapers and 60 national organizations have recently gone on record as strongly opposing ag-gag bills.

Each of us who feel that our government must never restrict our right to know where our food comes from should urge state legislators to oppose the bill.